With Time Running Out, NHL Sets Meeting

With the owners’ lockout in its fourth month and time dwindling to save a semblance of the season, the NHL on Wednesday summoned its Board of Governors to meet in New York on Jan. 14.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has not set a deadline for forging a collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union and salvaging the season, saying it’s more important to get the “right” deal than to make a deal simply to avoid becoming the first major pro league in North America to cancel a season. Calling the meeting might be a ploy by the NHL to pressure the union into thinking cancellation is imminent, and therefore elicit concessions from players. The NHL and union rejected each other’s proposals this month.

Bettman has the authority to cancel the season without approval of the board, but he’d probably talk to governors before taking that step and gauge the reaction of clubs that are generally profitable and might want to play a short schedule.

Bill Daly, the NHL’s chief legal counsel, would not specify the board’s agenda. “Quite frankly, it’s a little early for that and unfair to the process,” he said via e-mail.

Said Ted Saskin, senior director of the NHL Players’ Assn.: “The scheduling of the Board of Governors meeting is a league matter and not something the NHLPA will comment on.”

Spokesmen for both sides said they haven’t talked since Dec. 14 and no talks are planned.

The 103-day lockout of 1994-95 ended on Jan. 11, 1995, and each team played a 48-game, intraconference schedule that began Jan. 20.

That lockout was imposed after teams had held training camps; this stoppage began on Sept. 15, before camps opened, and players, including approximately 250 playing in Europe, would have to be signed and go through a training camp to get into shape.

An agreement would have to be in place by mid-January or the last week of the month to play 40 games, probably the minimum for a meaningful season.